Auburn leaders heard about the city’s police department’s proposed 2025–26 budget this week and met to address infrastructure updates and hear public comments.
Police Chief Matt Androsko presented a $9.8 million proposed budget, reflecting a $1.1 million increase over the prior year. The increase includes rising training costs due to a young workforce, higher fuel and ammunition prices, and the need for equipment upgrades, such as body cameras for Special Patrol Officers (SPOs) and replacements for outdated portable radios.
“This year, our total budget that we requested, that our initial, I should say, is $9,800,000 just over. Last year was $8,700,000 just over,” Androsko said.
The department currently employs 69 sworn officers, with staffing challenges driven by retirements, injuries, and parental leave. Five recruits recently began training at a new academy at Cayuga Community College’s Fulton campus. However, Androsko noted these officers will not be field-ready for approximately a year due to training and probationary periods.
The city is also seeking grant reimbursements totaling over $1.2 million, including funding from the GIVE (Gun Involved Violence Elimination) and STRIVE (Strategies to Reduce Violence Everywhere) grants. These funds are expected to support new hires, public engagement efforts, and officer training in evidence-based policing.
“We’re looking to implement the STRIVE grant, which we’re all excited for at the police department. We’ll be having new people housed at the police department, some different agencies housed at the police department,” Androsko said.
Androsko reported that Auburn was recognized alongside Buffalo by the Division of Criminal Justice Services for outstanding performance under the GIVE grant program. He credited the department’s “violent offender list” initiative for the recognition, which targets the city’s most dangerous individuals.
Public safety equipment upgrades are another budget priority. The department aims to replace ballistic vests nearing expiration, outfit SPOs with body cameras, and replace aging police radios. A separate request for five new patrol vehicles is expected to be partially funded by a state CREST grant, with assistance from State Senator Rachel May’s office.
During the public comment period, resident Buddy Unger raised concerns about the city’s ambulance operations. Unger questioned the financial sustainability of Auburn’s ambulance service and the availability of local units, noting instances when ambulances from neighboring communities had to respond to city calls.
“It’s a shame that the ambulance is failing. I’m sure the budget numbers are going to show that we’re losing money here in the city,” Unger said, citing previous Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests that revealed inconsistent financial figures.
City Manager Jeff Dygert later clarified that his prior presentations never criticized the staff of the former private provider TLC Ambulance, stating, “I not once, not once ever criticized the staff of TLC Ambulance… we had no issues with the people providing service in the streets of Auburn.”
In infrastructure updates, Dygert reported that the city is currently accepting bids for its annual road program, with responses due April 15. The engineering department will present an update at the May 1 council meeting, pending confirmation of state funding. Additionally, a public information session on the New York State Department of Transportation’s arterial repaving project is scheduled for April 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Auburn Fire Station.
The city also received confirmation that its Brookside Drive culvert project will be fully funded by New York State at nearly $1.5 million, with construction anticipated in 2026.
Councilor remarks included a report from a council member who participated in a Rotary Club event reading to unhoused children at the Auburn Inn. No additional council reports were made, and the meeting minutes were deferred to the following week.
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